Folding ruler.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

G. G.' GILLESPIB. FOLDING RULER.

APPLICATION FILED IBB3. 1905.

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' G. G. GILLESPIE.

FOLDING RULER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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GEORGE CURTIS GILLESPIE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO EMRY DAVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING RULEW..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed February 3, 1905. `Serial No. 244,046.

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE CURTIS GIL- LnsPIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at 186 Prospect Park Vest, New York city, borough of Brooklyn, New York, (postofliice address 7 and 9 Varren street, New York city,) have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Rulers, of which the following is a specification.

My object in this invention is to make an improvement in form, design, and construction of folding ruler, Patent No. 532,558, granted to me on January 15, 1895, and is to the end that the knuckles or joints shall be so formed as to be entirely :inclosed within the ruler-legs when the same are open and ready for use--that is, that there shall be no projections or cavities to detract from what the ruler would be were there no joints whatever and yet have said joints and permit of folding in any convenient form. When I refer tojoints being within ruler-legs, I refer in particular to those rulers I propose to manufacture of hollow tubing, but do `not wish to restrict myself to this entirely, as it may be in some cases desirable that the joints shall appear on the surface of a solid ruler and still be'flush when said ruler is open, and, further, as cited in my previous patent, to avoid the errors made when measuring odd feet and inches with j rulers longer than twelve inches. I have devised the idea of scaling the ruler from one to twelve inches and starting again with l 2 3, etc., from the previous twelve instead of 13 1.4 15, etc., as inv present rulers,'and in addition I consider that the i subscription of smaller or subservient figures folding two-foot rulers (of course this holds good in shorter or longer lengths) the idea of making all folds in the same plane-that is, all four edgewise or all four, say, flatwise, in Vone case making a flatter and more convenient form for the breast-pocket and in the other case a more compact form for the trousers-pocket, or vice versa. I attain these ends by the mechanism, etc., illustrated in the ac-` companying drawings, which show ruler and joints as for and applied to hollow tubing, though I do not wish to restrict myself to this alone as against a solid form, to both of which my joints may be applied with equal facility and still be flush.

In reference to the drawings similar letters refer to similar parts in all of the several views.

Figure l is an elevation of the edge of the ruler, showing position of belly of head-knuckle A and position of end of one of the middle knuckles B, also showing sixteenths of inches on edges. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of ruler, showing position of side of head-knuckle A and back or belly of middle knuckle I3 and eighths of inches only. Fig. 3 shows edge of ruler with knuckle B one-half open. Fig. 4 shows side of knuckle A with both legs of ruler completely closed. Fig. 5 shows the same as Fig. L1, with logs one-half open. Fig. 6 shows edge of ruler and knuckle B with the legs of the ruler completely closed. Fig. 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of middle knuckle B with the several parts detached and in position to be assembled. Fig. 8 shows the same as Fig. 7, assembled and ready to be secured to solid legs or inserted in hollow tubing. Fig. 9 shows an enlarged perspective view of head-knuckle A with the several parts detached ready for assembling. Fig. 10 shows the same as Fig. 9 assembled and ready for attachment to solid legs or insertion into hollow tubing. Fig. l1 is a perspective view of head-knuckle one-half insorted in one leg of the hollow tubing and ready to be inserted in the other leg. j Fig. 12 is similar to Fig. l1, but has reference to middle knuckle B in the same condition. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the entire ruler folded in the ordinary way and in particular illustrates thc head-knuckle as it appears when legs are completely folded and further illustrates the advantages which I claim that this particular form of joint tends to round or obviate the sharp square corners found objectionable in the ordinary rulers. Fig. 14 illustrates a form or method of folding a ruler with the legs edge to edge, making a broad thin convenient form, using, say, three headknuckles .A instead of one head-knuckle A and two middle knuckles B. Fig. 15 illustrates a form of folding opposite to that shown in Fig. 14, in that the ruler is folded TOO flatwise and that three knuckles B are used instead of one head-knuckle A and two middle knuckles B.

Of course, to go somewhat further, I anticipate the use of one middle knuckle B in place of larger knuckle A in conjunction with two ofthe larger knuckles A, making still another new method which may prove advantageous in manufacture, either as to cost or convenience. I have designated the three legs of the ruler employed in my drawings .t0 illustrate my joints as C, D, and E, the headknuckle A joining legs C and D and the middle knuckle B oining legs D and E. Now as to flush oints or knuckles of this nature the fundamental desideratum that there shall be no cavities or projections of joints or parts thereof seems to necessitate that the center or centers shall be entirely within the oint itself, as shown and claimed in my previous patent, or that it or they shall be (nearly or entirely) outside of the said oint and shall, so to speak, become imaginary or insubstantial centers.

Having secured the former in my previous patent, I now seek to secure the latter in this present petition, in the manner below described, having reference to Figs. 4, 5, 9, 1 0, 11, 13, and' 14, particularly Figs. 41 and 9, as to the formation of head-knuckle A. Its construction consists of the parts F, G, and H, so formed -that the pieces or parts F and G shall contain on their inner or labutting sides tongues and grooves or interlocking guides of a circular or concentric nature, the center of which circle or circles shall be nearly or entirely outside of the parts or ieces themselves, and that the piece or part II shall be so formed with contrary concentric tongues and grooves as to fit said tongues and grooves of F and G in such a manner as when once assembled shall act as guides for the movement of pieces F and G and at the same time be a key, as it were, to hold said parts rigidly together, except as to such movement as may be permitted by the concentricity of the said tongues and grooves. In order that during the convolutions of the parts F and G the piece H shall not become detached, I have found it necessary to form concentric slots in the pieces Fand G, (shown at I,) and to insert through these into H screws or stops from opposite sides and contrary ends of slots I, thus maintaining permanent unions between the several parts and permitting a drag in opposite directions by the pieces F and G upon the piece H, so that when the legs of the ruler are entirely closed, as in Fig. 13, the part H shall be uniformly distributed between F and G. Now while I have adopted what appeals to me as the best form of concentric tongues and grooves in the several parts in my claims I wish to claim the same broadly.

My previous patent is a basic one on absolutely flush-j ointed rulers, and, further, as the formation of interlocking telescoping concentric tongues and grooves teeth or li s may be designed almost ad tnjmltum. n assembling this head-knuckle A the parts F and G are placed side by side with the concentric segmental or semicircular l tongues and grooves together and opposite one another and coinciding, and the piece H with tongues opposite to grooves and grooves opposite to tongues is pushed or slid circularly into and between said pieces F and G and after same is in place inserting screws through slots I into H. Herewith I wish to anticipate the possible desirability of forming the slot I in the sides of pieces H and making a depression in the sides of F and G to accomplish the same end, thus doing away with abutment-screws. The latter method of course would permanently lock the parts together eXcept as to sliding.

The middle knuckle B, joining legs D and E, is illustrated particularly in Figs. 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 15. Preferably for description in Figs. 7 and 8 it is formed in a similar manner to the above-described head-knuckle A, except that the relative proportion requires a somewhat different form of tongue and groove, being one of the numerous forms above referred to. It differs in that the interlocking tongues and grooves in the members L, M, and K are concentric rather than radial, as in A. The two parts of L and K shown in the drawings as divided pieces are to be considered as one each, being divided for convenience of manufacture and assembly and to be held together when piece M is in place and when they themselves are inserted into tubing or secured to or form a part of solid legs. (See Fig. 12p.) This oint is formed of a central segmental or semicylindrical spool having on its ends concentric tongues and grooves coinciding and fitting within contrary tongues and grooves on ends of inner surfaces of leg members L and K. As this knuckle is necessarily small and all strength obtainable is required, I have found it desirable to employ a different method for retaining segmental spool M within the connes of tongues and grooves in pieces L and K than that employed in'knuckle A, and to accomplish this I have prolonged a portion of one tongue shown at IOO IOS

IIS

N On piece L, Fig. 7, and one shown at P on l piece K and formed a corresponding depression in opposite and corresponding grooves in spool M (shown at O and 0,) with contrary stops or lugs, as shown at T on M, Fig. 7 The opposite lug does not show in drawing, but is of similar nature and answers the same purpose as check or drag screw J in knuckle A. This knuckle B is preferably assembled lirst by separating the two parts or halves of piece K, Fig. 7, and closing them upon the piece M, and then by performing the same operation with the two halves of piece L, which goes outside of and incloses all three parts, two of K and one of M, the whole joint is ready, as shown in Fig. 8, for attachment to solid legs of ruler or insertion into tubing illustrated in Fig. 12. Now I realize and anticipate the possibility of using this sliding telescopical system with two central turning-points as well (or nearly so) as with one center, reference being had to my previous patent, which shows two turningpoints, and also this joint may be used for other purposes.

Having now described the construction, operation, assembly, and forms of my folding ruler, what I claim as new, and desire to se cure by Letters Patent, (and Iwish to do so broadly for reasons above mentioned) isl. The combination in a folding ruler of legs or sections jointed with flush hinges, consisting of three segmentally-grooved members, two of which form a part of each of the abutting legs, are retained in contact by the interposition between them of a third segmental member, tongued and grooved to fit concentric grooves and tongues on the inner surfaces of both of the said leg members, in such a manner as to permit a sliding gyration around a common center 5 substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination in a folding ruler, of legs or sections jointed with flush hinges, consisting of three segmentally-grooved members, two of which form a part of each of the abutting legs ,are retained in contact by the interposition between them of a third segmental member, tongued and grooved to fit concentric grooves and tongues on the inner surfaces of both of the said leg members, wherein a portion of the two opposing tongues of the leg members, are extended somewhat into their corresponding grooves in. the middle member, in such a manner that the said projected tongues will strike against projections in said grooves, to the end that the central member will be retained partly in both of the leg members during the entire movement of the joint substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination in a folding ruler, of legs or sections jointed with flush hinges, con sisting of three segmentally-grooved mem* bers, two of which form a part of each of the abutting legs, are retained in contact by the interposition between them of a third segmental member, tongued and grooved, to fit concentric grooves` and tongues on the inner surfaces of both of the said leg members, in such a manner as to permit a sliding gyration around a common center; substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination in a folding ruler, of legs or sections jointed with flush hinges, consisting of three segmentally-grooved members, two of which form a part of each of the abutting legs, are retained in contact by the interposition between them of a third segmental member, tongued and grooved on the inner surfaces of both of the said leg members, wherein a segmental slot is provided in the two leg members for the interposition of stops secured to the central member, to'the end that said central member' shall be retained partly in both of the leg members, during the entire movement of the joint; substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination in a folding ruler, of legs or sections formed of rectangular tubing for the insertion reception and entire concealment of (when open) flush hinges them selves externally rectangular to fit inside of and hinge together each two abutting tubes, said hinges consisting of two segmentallygrooved pieces or parts, each respectively in serted and secured to abutting tubes, said segmentally-grooved pieces being retained in contact by a third segmental piece tongued and grooved to fit concentric grooves and tongues of the aforesaid members in such a manner as to permit a gyration around a common center, to the end that a portion of each fixed leg member may fit into a recess of its opposite leg member and thus permit entire concealment of the entire hinge when the ruler is open; substantially as shown and described.

6. The specific or particular numbering of folding rulers, two or more feet in length, by

numbering each foot in sequence of twelve inches each and subscribing each number after the first number twelve with minor or subservient relatively fixed numbers denotiiig the totals from the first number-1; tius- 12s45sre91o11121 2 a 4 5 6 r s 9101112.-

i3 i4 15 16 rr is i9 zo 2i 22 sa 24 substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification., in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 2d day of January, 1905.

G. CURTIS GILLESPIE.

Witnesses:

ItioHAnD W. RUMMELL, LEwIs S. Bosrwroir.

IOO 

